Land of Lincoln - Springfield, Illinois

Labor Day weekend destination was Springfield, Illinois with plans to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum and a famous Frank Lloyd Wright residence.  I'll be sharing some of the many factoids I picked up along the way as well as the pictures of my trip. Turns out there is quite a bit to see in Springfield.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located in the historic downtown section of Springfield near many other Lincoln cultural sites. The presidential library opened on October 14, 2004, and the museum opened on April 19, 2005. Until 1970, Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. was designated as the "Lincoln Museum".

 The Museum

The Library

The buildings which house the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are are separated by a street and connected above the street level by an enclosed walkway. The entrance to each is dominated by a glass rotunda. The third structure that completes the complex is Union Station and the adjacent Union Square Park.

There is no photography allowed inside the Museum but the permanent exhibits are divided into two different stages of the President Lincoln's life: "Journey One: The Pre-Presidential Years" and "Journey Two: The Presidential Years". 

Apparently there has been a great debate among scholars over the Museum and its presentation of the life of Lincoln. In addition to some traditional exhibits there are also a variety of state of the art digital and holographic presentations that are very popular despite the disdain of academics. In August of 2012 the Museum ticketed visitor number "3 million".

My reaction: I liked it.  The Museum presents complex historical, political and social issues in a variety of innovative ways that get and keep one's attention.  And I was especially moved by the section that covers his presidency and the challenges of the Civil War. It holds up a mirror to a compelling time in our nation's history and, no doubt, President Lincoln was the man for the job in the 1860's. 

  

After learning so much at the Museum I decided to continue on to the other Lincoln historical sites. What I learned definitely carried over into visiting the other sites.  First was the Old State Capitol building.

As a practicing lawyer Lincoln tried cases before the Illinois Supreme Court in this building. He also used the law library. But most famously, it was in the Old State Capitol that, as an elected Representative, he gave the famous speech in which he stated "A house divided against itself cannot stand".

It was  built in the Greek Revival style between 1837-1840 and served as the State House from 1840 to 1876. It is the site of Lincoln's presidential candidacy announcement in 1858. And in 2007 the Old State Capitol was the site of (then Senator) Barack Obama's announcement of his candidacy for the presidency of the United States.

A few blocks away is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, managed by the National Park Service. A four block neighborhood surrounding the Lincoln residence has been restored. It was in this home that Lincoln lived, worked, raised his family and eventually achieved the highest office in the land. It was here that he developed his ideas and beliefs about freedom and equality. He lived in Springfield from 1837 to 1861 when he and his family moved to Washington DC.

And finally, the Lincoln Tomb. 

President Lincoln's death on April 15, 1865 happened only 6 days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The shock of the President's death settled over the country. After a funeral service in Washington DC, Lincoln's remains were placed on a special train for the 1,700 mile trip home to Springfield. The journey took 12 days as the train stopped at ten locations for memorial services. Upon arrival in Springfield, he was laid in state at the Old State Capitol building where he had practiced law and been an elected representative. He was then laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The monument here was dedicated in 1874. Oak Ridge Cemetery is surpassed only by Arlington National Cemetery as the most visited in the nation.

The other piece of monumental public architecture I visited was the current Illinois State Capitol Building. 

Having outgrown the Old State Capitol building where Lincoln practiced, the current State Capitol Building saw it's first legislative session in 1877. The dome of the building is 405 feet tall.

And now for a definite change of pace: Residential architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Dana-Thomas House. No photography was allowed on the tour through the interior but I'll take you on a walk around the outside. Inside and out, it is seamless Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Dana-Thomas House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902 for Susan Lawrence Dana, an active philanthropist and socialite who had been widowed and left a considerable fortune. As a successful hostess and leader of Springfield's social scene, her home was designed for display and entertainment. An arched doorway admitted guests into a series of expanding spaces, the vestibule and reception hall.

This house was a showcase for Wright's Prairie Style. It is regarded as the best preserved and most complete of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early “Prairie” houses.

The home has 35 rooms in the 12,000 square feet of living space which includes 3 main levels.

 




 

Susan Lawrence Dana lived in the Dana-Thomas House for approximately 24 years, from 1904 until about 1928. The house was restored by the State of Illinois in 1990 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

And finally the last and most unexpected piece of architecture!

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Through the wonders of the world wide web, I had arranged to stay at the Chiara Retreat Center. Little did I realize that the grounds would include a convent, a monastery, a hospital and the Motherhouse of the American Province of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis.  Who would have thought I would find this wonderful example of Romanesque church architecture. It was quite something...both inside and out!

It was quiet, peaceful and just a 10 minute drive from downtown Springfield. With walking paths throughout the grounds, it was an ideal place to stay. 

Whether you are an architecture/history buff or not...Thanks for sharing this trip!